TULSA: Tulsa certainly has the offense (34.7 PPG, 30th in FBS) to defend its C-USA title, with a ground game that gained 246 YPG (9th in FBS). RBs Trey Watts (1,108 rush yds, 343 rec. yds) and Ja'Terian Douglas (936 rush yds, 7 TD) should produce more in a weaker conference. QB Cody Green (2,592 pass yds, 17 TD, 11 INT) was limited by a shoulder injury last year, and has all the pieces in place to succeed with WRs Keyarris Garrett (845 rec. yds, 9 TD) and Jordan James (568 rec. yds), and a burly O-Line that allowed just nine sacks all season. The defense ranked among the nation's top-3 teams in sacks (53) and TFL (110), but the starting D-Line all left. The secondary is also shaky, but senior S Marco Nelson (8 INT career) is a rock. Senior LB Shawn Jackson (88 tackles, 10.5 TFL) is the heart and soul of this unit.

TULANE: Tulane's offense was dreadful during its 2-10 season with 320 YPG (112th in FBS), and second-year coach Curtis Johnson now needs to pick a starter between QBs Devin Powell (4.5 YPA, 1 TD, 3 INT) and JUCO Nick Montana, son of Joe Montana. But there is no tough decision in the backfield with RB Orleans Darkwa (2,090 rush yds, 27 TD career) the only option for a hideous ground game (40 YPG on 1.7 YPC). WR Ryan Grant (1,149 rec. yds, 6 TD) could be C-USA's best receiver. The nation's 7th-worst defense (483 YPG) has a boatload of experience returning. CB Lorenzo Doss (5 INT) and S Darion Monroe (96 tackles) lead a talented secondary, and seniors DE Julius Warmsley (3 sacks) and LB Dominique Robertson (23 solo tackles) starred in the spring. K Cairo Santos (21-for-21 FG) won the 2012 Lou Groza Award.